September 18, 2009

Government-run health care, the Democrats tell us, will eliminate inefficiency. Sally Thompson would beg to differ. If she hadn't bled to death in a British hospital, that is...

A young woman died in hospital after waiting almost two hours for a blood transfusion that could have saved her.

Sally Thompson, 20, bled to death after a doctor accidentally punctured her jugular vein during a bungled procedure.

Despite an urgent request to the blood bank at Manchester Royal Infirmary, she died one hour and 45 minutes later, before any arrived.

Speaking after her inquest, her father John, 62, said she would still be alive if the blood had been available sooner.

The retired farmer said: 'This hospital is supposed to be the cornerstone of the NHS in Manchester, but they couldn't get any blood for two hours.

'We have never had any answers about why it took so long. I feel very let down by the hospital.'

Coroner Nigel Meadows said the inability to supply the blood was a 'significant failure' and he would write to hospital bosses.

Well, I'm sure that's a comfort to her family.

Oh, and that "bungled procedure" might not have happened if the NHS doctor had followed hospital procedures and used ultrasound equipment to find the vein. The thing is, there was no ultrasound equipment available. Yeah.

By the way, I'd like to apologize for my RAAAAACISM, which is the only explanation for why I would ever possibly link this article.